As many American soldiers are overseas, with no way to see their families, some local organizations are working to get soldiers some needed items for the holidays.

The New Georgia Public Library worked with Operation Stars and Stripes for their “Operation Holiday Stockings.”

The library received “soldier angels” from the organization to put on an “angel tree”, said Jessica Hollis, children’s specialist. On the back of the angels were the lists of items the soldiers would like, and it also had their names and where they were stationed.

“This was the first year that we did it,” Hollis said.

The library system received 400 angels, and the New Georgia Library received 100 of them. Patrons would come into the library, and would find a soldier that they wanted to buy for. Then they would take them off the tree and go shopping, Hollis said.

“I spent $7, and got everything a soldier wanted,” she said.

The library had 80 of the angels taken from their tree, and 60 of them returned, Hollis said. Also she said different residents came in and wrote checks to pay for the postage to send the packages to the troops.

Hollis said the gifts will be put into stockings by Operation Stars and Stripes, and then sent mostly to Iraq and Afghanistan.

“The stockings will be to the troops by Christmas,” she said.

Hollis said she would like to host the event again next year.

The Paulding County Republican Party hosted its “2nd annual Christmas Cards for the Troops” cards signing event. The event gave residents the chance to come to the group's Victory Center headquarters in Dallas Nov. 29 and sign Christmas cards to mail to the troops, said Joseph Gullett, chairman of the party.

“It is just a fun event,” Gullett said.

Attendees brought in there old cards from years past, or bought new cards to sign, he said. They had Christmas music playing, and cookies to eat, Gullett said.

The group had 12 attendees sign about 300 cards to send to the American Red Cross to distribute, he said.

“If they can be away from their families for the holidays, we can take the time to send some cards,” Gullett said.

The cards will be sent to soldiers aboard and to the hospitals, he said.

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